Veteran Indian pacer Mohammed Shami discusses his undiminished motivation and desire to reach the "next level" in his career, despite not playing for India since March 2025. He reflects on East Zone's Duleep Trophy final victory, which coincided with his 100th first-class match, and shares insights on playing domestic cricket, mentoring young players, and his tactical approach to bowling in challenging conditions.
'The greatest love story of my life was with this man. He cured me of the spiritual question and threw me back into the real world.'
Malayalam filmmaker R Sarath, celebrated for his distinctive contributions to cinema including the award-winning Sayahnam, has passed away in Thiruvananthapuram.
Former Barcelona star Xavi Hernandez has been appointed as the new coach of the Netherlands national football team, signing a four-year deal. He has pledged to implement an attractive, dominant style of play while instilling a strong desire to win. Xavi aims to build a cohesive team from talented players and is ready to face the pressure of his new role, starting with a Nations League match against Germany.
A six-year-old boy from Kushinagar, Alfaz Sheikh, has donated his entire year's savings from a piggy bank to help victims of devastating floods in neighbouring Nepal. Moved by images of the destruction, he personally handed over his savings to the District Magistrate, inspiring officials with his profound humanitarian gesture.
Indian tennis icon Leander Paes is poised to contest the presidency of the All India Tennis Association (AITA), backed by the Bengal Tennis Association. This sets up a potential three-way battle against current Davis Cup captain Rohit Rajpal and interim president Chintan Parikh, pending Paes's success in the Sportsperson of Outstanding Merit (SOM) election.
The Supreme Court has directed the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) to consider granting permanent commission to Short Service Appointee (SSA) officer Priyanka Tyagi and other similarly placed women, pending vigilance clearance. This follows earlier strong remarks from the court against the ICG's "vague" and "arbitrary" policy regarding women officers, emphasising gender equality in the armed forces.
Indian pacer Arshdeep Singh discusses his aspirations for Test cricket, acknowledging his limited first-class appearances but asserting his readiness. He highlights the importance of understanding body mechanics, managing workload, and adapting to various pitch conditions. Arshdeep also touches upon the strong contingent of Punjab players in Indian cricket and his preparations for upcoming international assignments like the T20I series against Afghanistan and the Asian Games.
'He's monitored from every angle and every step he is taking forward in his international career.'
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian at the SCO summit, advocating for dialogue and diplomacy to resolve the West Asia conflict and expressing India's desire to expand and diversify trade with Iran. Pezeshkian, in turn, urged India to leverage its contacts to promote peace.
West Bengal Minister Dilip Ghosh asserted that eating non-vegetarian food during Durga Puja is not controversial, countering Bageshwar Dham head priest Dhirendra Shastri's call for vegetarianism. Ghosh highlighted Bengal's traditions, including goat sacrifice as prasad, and criticised attempts to dictate food choices or government involvement in community pujas. He also touched upon a controversy regarding an 11-handed Durga idol.
Lionel Messi's mother, Celia, shared an emotional statement reflecting on the deep connection her late husband, Jorge Messi, shared with their son's footballing journey, noting the bittersweet timing of Messi's international retirement just weeks after his father's passing.
The family of Chongtham Vikram Singh, a Manipuri musician beaten to death in south Delhi, has appealed for justice and an impartial probe, stating they seek accountability, not revenge, for his sudden loss.
BSP chief Mayawati has announced that her nephew Akash Anand has been "completely freed" from the party, following his father-in-law Ashok Siddharth's retirement from politics. Mayawati questioned Anand's commitment, suggesting his personal and family interests outweighed the party's, especially after his failure to repost her X post regarding Siddharth's retirement. This decision comes as the BSP prepares for the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.
Tamil Nadu minister P Viswanathan on Friday said that Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, will be the prime ministerial candidate in the 2029 elections, while expressing confidence in the Congress' political position in the state.
Liverpool have officially signed France international Bradley Barcola from European champions Paris St Germain on a long-term contract, with British media reporting the deal to be worth around $162 million.
East Zone skipper Ishan Kishan has lauded veteran pacer Mohammed Shami's unwavering hunger and motivation to make a comeback to the Indian cricket team. Shami's impressive performance in the Duleep Trophy semifinal, where he took five wickets, has convinced Kishan that age is just a number when it comes to the 36-year-old's drive to succeed.
Chelsea have completed the signing of World Cup-winning goalkeeper Emiliano 'Dibu' Martinez from Aston Villa on a three-year deal, strengthening their squad ahead of the new season.
The Duleep Trophy final between East Zone and South Zone will feature a mix of rising talents like Devdutt Padikkal, Tilak Varma, and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, alongside established players like Mohammed Siraj, KL Rahul, and Mohammed Shami. Players will be looking to impress selectors for upcoming national assignments, with Padikkal aiming to continue his red-ball form and Siraj seeking to regain rhythm. The match also marks Shami's 100th first-class game.
Indian cricketers Tilak Varma and Ishan Kishan discuss the challenges of transitioning directly from the Duleep Trophy final to the T20I series against Afghanistan. Both players emphasise the importance of adaptability and professionalism in managing the demanding schedule and format changes, while also highlighting key player additions to their respective Duleep Trophy teams.
Karnataka Higher Education Minister Basavaraj Rayareddi stated that Islam is "greater" than other religions and expressed a desire to visit Mecca, despite being a non-Muslim. These remarks, made at a mass marriage event, drew sharp criticism from BJP leader R Ashoka, who accused the minister of portraying Sanatana Dharma in an inferior light and demanded his apology or removal from the cabinet by Chief Minister DK Shivakumar.
Tilak Varma, despite his white-ball success, expresses a strong desire to play Test cricket for India, considering red-ball cricket his true strength. He discusses the challenges of balancing international white-ball commitments with domestic red-ball opportunities and his eagerness to participate in the Duleep Trophy final amidst a tight schedule.
Paris St Germain defeated Aston Villa 2-1 to retain the UEFA Super Cup, with goals from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Desire Doue. Despite Brian Madjo's equaliser for Villa, PSG secured their victory, marking another trophy for manager Luis Enrique and highlighting their continued dominance in European football.
Naib Subedar Kedarling Balakrishna Uchaganve, a 27-year-old from a farming village in Karnataka, is set to represent India at the Asian Games in shooting, a sport he discovered only after joining the Indian Army in 2018 with no prior sporting ambition.
Ferran Torres scored two late goals on his debut for Paris St Germain, coming off the bench to help his new club rally from a two-goal deficit and secure a 2-2 draw against Stade Rennais in their Ligue 1 season opener.
Jose Mourinho praised Kylian Mbappe's relentless hunger to make history at Real Madrid after his hat-trick inspired a 4-1 win over Real Sociedad at Santiago Bernabeu.
Several prominent Bollywood and television personalities, including Salman Khan, Bipasha Basu, Alia Bhatt, and Nia Sharma, celebrate Raksha Bandhan with industry colleagues, proving that strong sibling-like connections can form beyond biological ties.
Lionel Messi, widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time, has announced his retirement from international football, concluding a career marked by numerous club and international accolades, including multiple Ballon d'Or awards and a World Cup title.
Formula One world champion Lando Norris has announced a contract extension with McLaren until at least the end of 2030, expressing his desire to spend his entire career with the team.
Actor and politician S Devan, formerly the BJP's state vice-president, has announced his decision to join the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) party, led by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay. Devan cited a lack of "space" within the BJP and a desire for political change as reasons for his departure. He is expected to be offered the TVK state president post, with a formal announcement following a meeting on September 10.
Mumbai-based Raj Thakur tells us how his relationship with his wife, Mamta, blossomed from friendship to marriage and the little secrets that have kept their relationship alive for nearly three decades.
Badminton legend Saina Nehwal has expressed her openness to entering electoral politics in the future, stating her desire to contribute to India's development and continue serving the nation beyond her sporting career.
Many women admit that while they keep clamouring to know the whereabouts of their disappeared family members, they are painfully aware that all of them may have been done to death, points out M R Narayan Swamy.
'I've 'de-sold' myself to a few films.'
Dolly Parton, who passed away at 80, expressed a unique final wish to be laid to rest in a 'beautiful bed of plush cotton.'
The Hingorani family's decision to part with the Gandhi archive after generations was guided by a desire to make it accessible to a wider audience and to fund initiatives that would extend its legacy.
Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso addressed speculation surrounding midfielder Enzo Fernandez's future ahead of their Premier League opener against Fulham.
The Delhi High Court has highlighted the paradoxical nature of marriage, noting that unresolved issues can turn a "better half" into a "bitter half." These observations were made while acquitting a man, Nafe Singh, who was previously sentenced for attempting to murder his wife by pouring insecticide into her mouth. The court found insufficient evidence regarding his intent, granting him the benefit of doubt.
Indian banks and non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) are undertaking a comprehensive review and reset of their engagement terms with fintech firms, driven by the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) draft Guidance on Regulatory Expectations for Data Governance and the stringent compliance requirements of the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023, and its 2025 Rules.
HDFC Bank's share in active mutual fund schemes has fallen to multi-year lows, despite overall MF ownership in the bank rising, as the stock faces weak performance, soft margins, and governance concerns.
